A mother has urged parents to keep their children indoors after her nine-year-old son was attacked by a group of girls and boys in a popular park.
The schoolboy suffered bruises, cuts and a bloodshot eye after being punched in the face at a park in Sandyford, Stoke-on-Trent.
His mum said he was attacked by "a large group of lads and girls who were aged between 12 and 15."
The boy was later treated at the accident unit within Haywood Hospital following the attack at 8pm on Wednesday, August 5, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
His mum has labelled her son's attackers 'scumbags' as police appeal for information surrounding the incident.
In a Facebook post, the boy's mum said: "My nine-year-old son has just been attacked at Sandyford park by a large group of lads and girls who were aged between 12 and 15.
"The girls also attacked one of his friends.
"If your kids are out then get them in. Scumbags."
It is not the first time there has been trouble at the park during the coronavirus lockdown.
A nine-year-old girl was dragged to the ground before being kicked by a boy and a girl around a month earlier and just a few days ago a girl was egged at the park.
Some parents fear the attackers are the same children who travelled from Chell to bring terror to the streets of Biddulph last Sunday.
Staffordshire Police are appealing for witnesses following the latest Sandyford attack.
A police spokesman said: "We were called at 8pm on August 5 to a report of an assault.
"A nine-year-old boy was attacked by older children at a park in Sandyford.
"He suffered minor injuries to his eye, legs and hands. A girl was also pushed."
Anyone with any information about the attack should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 708 of August 5 or call, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
